Raynors HCA 2017-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017
A wonderful Civil War letter, 16pp. 8vo., by New York City attorney and Harvard graduate Rufus Billing Cowing (1840-1920), "No. 8 Wall Street, Room No. 29, New York, June 5, 1861" to his mother, reading, in part: "…Uncle Dick…says that camp life just suits K[irk]…I am not surprised…he has always wanted to go…to West Point…the discipline…will be good for him…he will come out all the better. You say you can not find anything in the bible that will justify war. Well mother…we read enough about wars in the bible…I don't believe that all wars are right nor that both sides are ever right but…there can be a just & righteous war in some cases…this war now pending [will] be most justly and righteous carried on by our Government…it is a well settled principle that in the case of individually self preservation is the highest law bot of God & man…government guarantees to each individual the preservation of his life and liberty and…it also guarantees him the quiet enjoyment of his property…Henry Ward Beecher says…this government is not a boarding house for states to go and come just when they please…if we allow the right that a state has a right to secede & leave the government why not…allow the county to secede from the state and the city…from the county…if we allow such a principle to prevail) our having in this continent as many different nations as their are different cities & villages…as I believe William A. Seward there is only room enough in this continent for one nation…if you look at this war cooly you cant but come to the conclusion that on our part this war is an unavoidable necessity and a righteous one…the object of the rebels is to overturn this glorious government…and to build in its place a slave government…one based on slavery…they have plundered the United States Treasury. They have seized United States property. They have passed secession ordinances & not submitted them to the people…they have taken that flag which has never known insult of defeat…& trampled it in the dust, dragged it through the streets & spit upon it…mother you say you hope that I will give the matter my serious attention before I enlist…I have not enlisted yet nor shall I do so unless I deem it actually necessary…at present there is no need of my services nor was there perhaps of K's, but K's motives & mine are entirely different…I hope this…cause will triumph without much blood being spilt…your affect. son, Rufus." Light soiling, else VG
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